TERRACE BAY — The owner of the idled pulp mill at Terrace Bay has been handed a stiff penalty for violations of Ontario's Environmental Protection Act.
Production at the mill was suspended in January 2024, but the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks reports the violations occurred in May 2023.
According to the ministry, the company is required to operate its sewage works such that no more than 50 per cent of rainbow trout test organisms die during toxicity tests conducted each month.
But on May 1, 100 per cent of the trout died during a test performed on a sample of the mill's effluent.
AV Terrace Bay reported the incident to the ministry as required, and conducted additional tests over the following four weeks that resulted in no further failures.
The ministry said this showed the May 1 problem was likely an isolated incident.
But another problem occurred the same month related to air emissions, as total reduced sulphur concentrations exceeded guidelines on four occasions.
The company immediately reported these instances, conducted an investigation, and submitted an abatement plan.
Nonetheless, the ministry charged AV Terrace Bay with two violations under the EPA, resulting in a fine of $525,000 plus a victim fine surcharge of $131,000.
